JULY 2011

GERALD AND CHRISTOFF FINISHING IN THE RAIN.



TRIP TO ISRAEL FROM 22ND JUNE TO 14TH JULY. SEE SEPARATE POST.
BACK TO PORT ELIZABETH AND HOME.
BARBARA OFF TO CAPE TOWN TO TAKE CARE OF GRANDCHILDREN
NICCI AND STEFAN OFF TO GREECE FOR A WEDDING SHOOT
MICHAEL BACK IN PE AFTER A SHORT STAY IN CAPE TOWN
COCKSCOMB CLIMB
JESSICA AND JOSHUA BACK TO CLARENDON AND DANIEL BACK TO JACQUI ZEELIE'S SCHOOL
ALLY BACK AT COLLEGIATE
HOCKEY AT WOODRIDGE
BARBARA AT CAPETOWN
NICKY AND STEFAN RETURN FROM GREECE
MICHAEL STARTS RADIUM TREATMENT
WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUNNING
JULIA RETURNS FROM HER MOCAMBIQUE TRIP AND MOVES TO A NEW FLAT IN HUMEWOOD.
SUPPER AND BRIDGE WITH CHARLES AND INGRID
ALLY HOCKEY IN BLOEMFONTEIN

We are in Israel for the first two weeks of July. We arrive back in PE on 14th. The next morning I go to work, Barbara goes to Cape Town for the week to help Babysit while Nicky and Stefan are in Greece for a wedding shoot.

Saturday 16
Ally has slept over with her friend Lara O. I have arranged to climb the Cockscomb with Fred Kohler. Michael and his family are staying with us while he is undergoing treatment.



Sunday 17th. I return from the Cockscomb hike and Ally, Gina and Kerry go to church.


HARD AT WORK CROSS WORD PUZZLES IN THE LOOTS CAVE



THE COCKSCOMB CAVE



Monday 18th. Back to work and back to school.

Wednesday this week I am off to Port Alfred with FSAM's and FSM;s for IR training with ROsita Botha. THis evening I have Alpha. I am a leader again for those nights that I am in town.

Thursday 21st. I am lazy to run and have not got out of bed this week. THis afternoon I fly to JHB for meetings and stay in WIllow Park near to the airport.

Friday 22nd: Barbara returns from CT. Nicky and Stefan return from Greece. I fly home from JHB.

Saturday 23rd. Adrienne has sms'd and we have a run planned for this morning. It rained in the night and I felt really snug in bed. As I had felt every morning this week. But I HAD to pick Adrienne up and so ended up at Hobie Beach at 6am for a run. It was slow for me. I had to battle to stay with the group. Andre and I got to talking and he decided that he was keen to do the Woodridge Trail run the following morning. It was great to be on the road again and chatting to the people who I love so much. And the swim after the run. I was expecting a freezing cold surf but was pleasantly surprised to find the water mild. We had a great swim.

Ally had a Collegiate Hockey match at Woodridge. It was a good game for many of the players but Woodridge were "nowhere' and Ally (playing defence) hardly touched the ball and so did not feel good about the game which her team won 6;0.

I had to go to the office after which Michael and I strolled down to Grey where we watched some rugby. Grey played Daniel Pienaar. We watched the 3rds; Seconds and the First team. Grey won all three matches. A bit scrappy with a whole lot of grabbing of jerseys and chest to chest stuff which is a complete waste of energy and time. But boys at this age have to show that they are the toughest. Barbara and Jessica joined me a little later. Aiden Boyd plays for the second team and Heidi had seen me at Appha earlier in the week so I had promised to be there. The Front Ranker for Grey is a huge boy; Jan Enslin who is a real play maker. He is the designated Place Kicker and is fast on his feet and scored a try. It looks like he could go far with SA rugby if he choses to do so. Ally and her friends; Lara and Kerry were there.

Sunday morning.
This morning Andre Muller and I did the 10kay Woodridge trail run in the pouring rain. It was a stunning event that both of us enjoyed.


RONEL, ELMARIE AND MICHELL STILL SMILING AT THE START OF THE RACE



RONEL AND COLIN MOVING UP THE HILL


PETER AND ANDRE -- ANDRE STAYED WITH ME THE WHOLE RACE.

Monday; Running in the morning; Cell Group leaders meeting
Tuesday; Running in the morning
Wednesday; Running in the morning; Aron birthday; Alpha in the evening.
Thursday; Training and meeting in East London; Supper at Charles and Ingrid; they gave us a real treat of Prawns that Ingrid had bought at the harbour; Huge king prawns with a special Portugese braizing sauce. To die for! And some interesting bridge thereafter.
Friday; rained all night. Cold morning. Ally leaves at 05.30am for Bloemfontein. She packs a full bag, hockey bag, snack backpack, Pookey, blankie; she looks well prepared for this trip. I have two days leave and stay in bed a little later than I would normally.


DANIELLE WILSON IN COLLEGIATE FIRST TEAM

We leave for Bloemfontein at around 11am. Cradock. Middelburg, Colesburg and then Bloem. It is a 7 hour drive of over 650kays. Many stop go's and a long way. We arrive in Bloem at around 6pm and book into the B & B that Terry Billson has found us.

Saturday morning we leave after a quick breakfast to find the school -- Oranje -- where Collegiate is playing hockey. Ally is in the U14 A team. It is surprisingly warm in the sun. Yesterday we saw snow on the side of the road and were expecting very cold.


ORANJE WEEKEND


A SHORT CORNER AND COLLEGIATE U14 TRIES TO DEFEND THEIR 3-2 LEAD



Ally's team has to work hard to win with a 3-2 lead. It could have gone either way but our team takes advantage of confusion around the goal and sneak in a few goals.

The rest of the Collegiate teams do not do as well. Peter Wilson sits with us as Danielle is playing in the Collegiate first team. They stay for Grey Rugby which Grey Pe lose 71-21.
We leave after the first team hockey game and arrive at home at 7.30pm.



COLLEGIATE PLAY ORANJE IN BLOEM


ALLY IN COLLEGIATE U14 FIRST TEAM



Sunday morning I am up early for another Woodridge trail run. I drive out with Tommy, Andre and Adrienne.

As we return from our outing Julia is busy loading the trailer to move to Humewood. Tommy helps us and we soon are ready to leave. At her new flat, Julia moves the meagre furniture into the flat. We are fortunate as there are a couple of chaps to help us move the big table.

Later that afternoon Ally (Old Grey Acadamey) has a hockey match against NMMU. Ally plays at her best showing that she really is a capable hockey player given the right circumstances. She defends and attacks with skill and nerve. We join Terry Billson and the group of parents on this chilly Sunday afternoon. Dedicated Parents!